Bottle capping apparatus



Z U L unuoo nu Llaman-L. i-mm: www

June 27, 1939. 1 1 SEYMOUR 2,164,026

BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR LYNN [..SEv/v/ow? ATTORNEYS June 27, 1939. 1 SEYMOUR 2,164,026

BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LYNN L. SEYMOUR BY *32T ATTORNEYS June 27, 1939. L SEYMOUR BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS mm mo VM mw 5. v N Wwf QW \h www Y W Nh L L 1l l I l l Ilm -.,-..l..--.@

June 27, 1939. L. 1 SEYMOUR BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR` LYNN 55s/Mau@ ATTORNEY5 June 27, 1939. 1 SEYMOUR 2,164,026

BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS INVENTOR )./NN l.. Sav/M0 Uf? ATTORNEYS June 27, 1939. L L SEYMOUR 2,164,026

BOTTLE CAPPTNG APPARATUS 4Filed Feb. 23, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR m LYNN L; SEYMOUR BY @Vif ATTORN EY5 June 27, 1939.

33,4, gif-WQ 'June 27, 1939. 1 SEYMOUR 2,164,026

BOTTLE CAPP ING APPARATUS Filed Feb, 23, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR` ATTORN EYS Patented June 27, 1939 2,164,026 BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Lynn L. Seymour,

Creamery De Kalb, Ill., assignor to The Package Mfg. Company, Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 191,984

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle capping apparatusand more particularly to apparatus for applying flexible caps to milk bottles and the like.

The apparatus preferably is adapted for use in applying caps of the type comprising substantially parallel top and bottom portions, the latter having an opening therein to receive a plurality of fingers which grip the bottom portion of the cap, spreading same into a skirt whereby the cap may be placed on a bottle. Also, the apparatus is preferably for use with caps of the aforesaid type made of a film that satisfactorily stretches, for example, of a rubber hydrohalide film, such as is disclosed in Calvert Patent No. 1,989,632, January 29, 1935, which product is obtainable on the market under the trade name Pliofilm. It will be obvious, however, that the apparatus may also be used with caps formed of other materials, such as compounds of rubber or combinations of such compounds with Pliofilm. Furthermore, the invention is incorporated in an apparatus of the duplex type, but it will be apparent the invention may be utilized in other types of' apparatus.

The objects of this invention are to provide means for continuously feeding bottles to be capped; to provide means for adapting the apparatus to different sizes of bottles, such as quarts, pints and half pints; to continuously pass the bottles beneath a magazine containing caps; to prepare the lowermost cap in said magazine for application to a bottle by providing novel means for forming the bottom of the cap into a skirt which will fit over the head of a bottle; to direct a current of heated air into the magazine to assist in forming a skirt out of the lower portion of the cap and to render the material of the latter more pliable; to pass the head of the bottle through the plane of the cap to apply the latter to the bottle and simultaneously remove the cap from the skirt forming means; to raise the magazine out of the path ofthe skirt forming means and of the bottle when the latter receives the cap; and to continuously pass the capped bottles out of the apparatus,

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a front elevation of the lower portion of the apparatus,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken partly on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and including the upper portion of the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, with some parts shown in top plan,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on line some parts in top plan,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 6,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line l-l of Fig. 2,

Figure 8 is a similar view on line 8--8 of Fig.

taken substantially Figure 9 is a sectional view showing a modified form of means for expanding the caps,

Figure l0 is a sectional view taken substantially on line III- I0 of Fig. 9,

Figure 11 is a plan view of one of the caps, and Figure 12 is a sectional view through one of the caps.

Referring to numeral I0 designates the the drawings (Figs. l and 2) the base of the apparatus which is supported on a plurality of spaced legs II. A plurality of vertical supporting members I2 extend upwardly in spaced relation from base I0 and support the main frame I3. The space I4 between base I0 and the main frame I3 is enclosed by Walls space is used to I5 secured as at house some of the operating I 6, and this parts of the apparatus which will be later referred to.

Also, a housing Il is formed in the and has a rotatable shaft V-pulley 22 which carries ter engages and 2I on which is fixed a a V-belt 23. The latdrives a V-pulley 24 fixed on a drive shaft 25 which will be termed the main drive shaft.

Shaft 25 extends into housing I1,

being suitably journaled in bearings carried by the main frame and gagement with means bottles to bf' cappe is arranged in driving enfor continuously delivering d As shown (Fig. '7) shaft 25 carries a Worm gear 26 which meshes with a, rotatable vertical shaft ably journaled in housing '29 secured main frame as at 3U. 28 has fixed thereto a with a similar gear the main to the upper Asurface of the Intermediate its ends shaft bevel gear 3I which meshes 32 (Fig. '1) fixed on one end worm wheel 21 nxed to a 28 (Figs. 2 and 7) suitframe I3 and in a of a rotatable horizontal shaft 33 suitably journaled in an extension 34 of housing 29. The

4 4 of Figure 6, and showing 5 other end of shaft 33 has xed'thereon a bevel gear 35 which meshes with a Similar gear 36 (Fig.

,Y 8) fixed on one end of a rotatable shaft 31, also ljournaled in extension 34, and the opposite'end of shaft 31 has a sprocket wheel 38`fixed thereon which rotates outwardly of the gear housing.

Sprocket wheel 38 drives a chain or link-belt 39 `(Fig. 1) which passesover an idler sprocket 40 rotatably mounted in spaced'brackets 4| depending from one end of spaced angle irons 42 and 43 which in turn are supported on a bracket arm 44 as at 46. Bracket arm 44 is supported as at 46 (Figs. 1 and 2) on housing 29. Angle irons 42 and 43 serve to support the upper reach of the conveyor belt 39 whereby bottles' may be conveyed to the capping portion of the apparatus. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, angle iron 42 extends across the front of the machine and has a cut-out portion 41 to permit the conveyor belt to pass downwardly around sprocket 38, while angle iron 43 has its horizontal portion cut out as at 48 to permit the belt to pass downwardly and this iron is bent back to provide an angularly arranged portion 49 for a purpose to be described. 'Ihe lower reach of belt 39 may be supported on a suitable shelf 49' arranged as in Fig. l to prevent interference of the belt with other parts of the appartus.

Throughout a portion of its length, angle iron 42 is provided with an upwardly extending outer guard rail 50 supported at one one point as at 5| on a bracket 52. A similar bracket 53 supports the inner end of the guard rail as at 54, but the latter bracket is extended below the angle iron and is formed into a rectangular member 55, additionally supported at 56 (Fig. l). 'I'hree notches 51, 58 and 59 are formed in member 55. An inner guard rail 60 is arranged on angle iron 43, both rails preferably being curved as at 6| (Fig. 3) to permit the entrance of bottles onto conveyor belt 39. Guard rail 60 preferably is adjustably secured to member 43 so as to permit movement toward and from rail 50 whereby the rails can be made to accommodate different sizes of bottles, such as quarts, pints and half pints.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, a bracket 62 is secured to angle iron 43 by bolts 63 and a pin 64 is secured in this bracket. Pivoted at one end of the latter pin is a link 65, the other end of which is pivoted to a pin 66 carried in a bracket 61 secured to rail 60. A bracket 62', similar to bracket 62, is spaced from the latter and secured to angle iron 43 by bolts 63', and a pin 64' is pivotally mounted in this bracket. A link 65' is secured at one end to pin 64 and at its other end is pivoted to pin 66 carried by bracket 61' which in turn is secured to rail 60. Also secured at one end to pin 64' is a lever 68 which extends under the angle irons and which has its opposite end adapted for insertion in one of the slots 51, 58 or 59. In Fig. 3 lt is shown in slot 51 and the rails are far enough apart to receive quart bottles. The action of lever 68 and link 65' is a bell crank action and movement of this lever suilcient to turn pin 64' will move link 65'. Through the latter, rail 60 will be moved toward or from rail 50 and since link 65 is also pivoted to rail 6|), the movement of link 65 will be similar to that of link 65. Hence, if it is desired to use pint bottles, lever 68 is moved to slot 58 which movement brings the rails closer together, and for half pints this lever will be in slot 59, thus moving rail 68 farther inwardly. Reverse movement of lever 68 changes the spacing between the rails accordingly.

' pending As more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 a table or platform 69 is arranged with its upper surface in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the conveyor belt 39. This table ls supported across its front by angle iron 42, being secured to the latter by screws 18. At its rear, table 69 is supported as at 1| on a horizontal supporting member 12 which extends from a vertical angle iron 13 secured to the base and main frame by bolts 14. An additional support for table 69 is afforded by the portion 49 of angle iron 43 to which the table is secured by screws 15. Table 69 is of a contour which will not interfere withthe movable parts of the apparatus, yet will provide support for the bottles when necessary, for example, when the bottles leave the conveyor belt to be delivered to the capping means and after the bottles have been capped and are removed from the movable parts of the apparatus.

Secured to and arranged above table 69 are additional guard or guide rails 18 and 11 which are preferably curved and arranged as shown in Fig, 3. These rails may be joined in a common supporting section 18 which may be secured to the table by securing means 19. Rail 16 may also be secured to the table as at and strengethening webs 8| and 82 may be arranged outwardly of the section 18. Between one end of rail 11 and the adjacent end of rail 50 a flexibly mounted rail section 83 is arranged in alinement with the adjoining rails. As shown in Fig. 3, rail section 83 has an arm 84 secured thereto or formed integral therewith, which arm is pivoted to a pin 85 mounted in-one end of a bracket 86 secured to table 69 as at 81. A coil spring 88 has one end 89 secured to arm 84 and its opposite end is secured at to the web 8|, said spring being adapted to normally urge rail-section 83 toward the conveyor belt, but allowing movement of the section away from the belt against the action of the spring. However, there is a stop member 9|' (Fig. l) defrom section 83 which is adapted to engage angle' iron 42 and prevent inward movement of the rail section beyond the plane of alinement with adjoining rails, as shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of rail section 83 will be later referred to.

The conveyor belt 39 is adapted to convey the bottles to a point opposite rail section 83, at which point a bottle feed wheel 9| is arranged to engage each bottle, and move it from the conveyor onto another part of the apparatus. Wheel 9| is removably fixed on the upper end ,of shaft 28 (Fig. 2) for rotation with the latter shaft. A pin 92 secured in wheel 9| extends into a bearing member 93 arranged on top of housing 29 and keyed to shaft 28 as at 94 whereby rotation of bearing member 93 will effect rotation of wheel 9|, The outer periphery of the latter wheel is provided with two oppositely disposed cut-out portions 95 each of which, as the wheel rotates, engages a bottle on belt 39 and moves it counter-clockwise as vlewed in Fig. 3 for approximately guard rail 11 being utilized as a guide in the movement of the bottle, while a portion of table 69 serves as a support for the bottle until it reaches the next partof the apparatus. Wheel 9| is made in various sizes with cut-out portions 95 altered to accommodate bottles of quart, pint or half pint size and each wheel 9| carries its own pin 92. Such wheel may readily be changed on shaft 28 .by displacing pin 92 and removing the wheel, placing a new wheel on the shaft and replacing its pin 92.

As long as a bottle is in proper position on belt `on until the high point on the cam is reached.

39 to be engaged by one vof the cut-out portions 95, such bottlev will be properly carried from the conveyor by the feed wheel. But, if a bottle should be out of place so that itis engaged by the periphery of the feed wheel between the cutout portions, such bottle will be forced against the guard rail and if the latter were stationary breakage might result. However, by flexibly mounting rail section 483 I provide against breakage by allowing the rail to give away sufficiently at this point to force Vthe bottle out of danger. Continued rotation of the feed wheel will eventually bring one of the cut-out portions into proper position to pick up the bottle and when such position is reached, spring 88l will force the rail section 83 back into its normal position and force the bottle into the cut-out portion so that the bottle can be moved from the conveyor belt in the manner intended for its removal. 4

Referring again to Fig. 2, numeral 96 indicates a vertical .elevating shaft having a rack 91 on its lower end which extends into a housing 98 bolted to base |0 as at 99. Housing 98 also encloses a rack gear |00 the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of rack 91. Gear |00 is connected with suitable gearing (not shown) in housing |0| which in turn is connected through suitable shafts and joints, indicated as a whole by the numeral |02, to a hand wheel |03 mounted in the front of the apparatus. The arrangement is such that elevating shaft 9G may be manually raised and lowered by turning hand wheel |03, so as to adapt this portion of the apparatus to receive quart, pint or half pint bottles.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 96 is a column |04, the lower. end of which extends into space |4 and bears against a washer |05 supported on a thrust collar |06 mounted on shaft 96 by a pin |01 A worm gear |08 is suitably mounted for rotation in housing |1 and has an elongated hub portion |09 extending upwardly from the main frame |3, said hub portion being keyed to column |04 as at ||0 to rotate the latter. Since column |04 will be raised and lowered with shaft 9G, an elongated keyway is utilized in the connection with gear |08 whereby this connection will not be disturbed by vertical movement of the column, Gear |08 is in driving engagement with drive shaft 25 through suitable gearing whereby column |04 will be rotated from the main drive shaft 25. As previously stated, the operating parts of the apparatus enclosed in housing |1 are adapted to be run in oil, and an oil seal ||2 is arranged around column |04 to prevent leakage of oil past the column..

A bottle rotor ||3 is also keyed to hub |09 at its outer end as by means of key ||4 and this rotor rests against the upper end of a projection ||5 on the main frame |3. If desired a suitable bearing may be placed between the rotor and projection ||5. At diametrically opposite points rotor ||3 is formed with vertical openings ||8 each of which slidably receives a leg ||1 of a bottle table ||8 flanged as at ||9 to prevent displacement of bottles placed thereon. The lower end of each leg ||1 is provided with a cam roller |20 which engages a cam track |2| located on the main frame |3. When the roller |20 shown at the right in Fig. 2 is at the high point |22 on cam |2|, the other roller is out of contact with the cam, the arrangement being such that when rotor ||3 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the roller |20 at the left in Fig. 2 will gradually ride up cam |2| and raise its associated table ||8 together with the bottle there- From this high point the roller is quickly returned to its lowest position so as quickly to lower the bottle. In Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 the high point of the cam is indicated at |22 and it will be readily observed that the time required to lower the roller is much less than is required to raise it to its high point. Both rollers |20 alternately operate in the same manner, thus alternately raising and lowering tables ||0 and the bottles thereon.

Also keyed to column |04 for rotation therewith is a capper frame |23 secured-to the end of column |04 by a key |24. Capper frame |23 may be additionally secured to column |04 by form- I ing the hub |23' as a split sleeve held tightly in engagement with the column by screw |24' (Fig. 4) in the customary manner. At diametrically opposite points. capper frame |23 is provided with vertical bores |25 each of which receives a tubular member |20 having an annular base plate or flange |21, each member |26 and its flange being suitably secured in a bore |25 so as to rotate with the capper frame and to be incapable of any relative movement with respect to the capper frame. Preferably the portions |25' of the capper frame, in which bores |25 are formed, are constructed as split sleeves which are held tightly in engagement with tubular members |26 by means of screws |26' which hold the split portions together (Fig. 4).

Each flange |21 is provided with a plurality of radial slots |28 (Figs. 5 and 6), each of the latter slots slidably receiving a radially movable cap expanding arm |29. Each arm |29 has a vertically arranged finger |30 on the inner end thereof, and intermediate its ends each arm |29 carries a pin |3| having a roller |32 on its lower end. Each roller |32 travels in an arcuate slot |33 formed in a lower housing member |34 which is provided with a central beveled opening |35. A 'centrally apertured upper housing member |36 is secured at its outer edge to member |34 by means of bolts |31, and the arrangement is such that each flange |21 is substantially enclosed in a pair of housing members |34, |36, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. For convenience, the structure associated with each bore |25 will be referred to as a whole as a capping head, so that in this instance two oppositely arranged capping heads are provided.

Since each pair of housing members |34, |36 are associated with the capper frame |23 they will, of course, rotate with such frame and in order to secure radial movement of the expander arms |29 some means must be provided to effect relative movement between housing members |34, |36 and flange |21 whereby rollers |32 will move in the arcuate slots |33. In this instance this relative movement is obtained by the use of a cam |38 which is fixed to shaft 96 above the upper end of column |04. Preferably a screw |39 is utilized to hold cam |38 in engagement with shaft 9B and against rotation.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, a stud or bolt |40 is securedl to and extends upwardly from each housing member |30, and one end of a link 4| is pivoted to each stud. The opposite end of each link |4| is pivoted to a pin |42 which also pivotally receives-one end of a lever |43, and the opposite end of each of the latter levers is ilxed to the lower end of a vertical rock shaft |44 suitably mounted in bosses |45 carried by the capper frame |23. 'I'he upper end of each rock shaft |44 has one end of a short lever arm |46 xed thereto and the opposite end of each arm |40 carries a pivotally mounted roller |41 adapted to bear against cam |38. A coil spring |48 is secured between each stud and a stud |49 carried by the hub portion of capper frame |23. As will be apparent, movement of each lever arm |46 in response to movement of each roller'l41 will rock each shaft |44 causing the latter to swing levers |43 in a path of movement similar lto the path of movement of arms |46. Obviously, the swinging movements of levers |43, through pins |42, will move each link |4|, and since the latter are secured to housing members |36, a relative turning movement will be effected between each pair of housing members |34, |36 and each fiange |21 arranged between these housing members. This relative turning movement is sufiicient to move rollers |32 in their respective arcuate slots |33, thereby causing radial movement of fingers |30 and arms |29 in radial slots |28, because rollers |32 are carried by arms |29 and the path of movement of arms |29 is-confined to slots |28. When one set of arms |29 are at the inner end of their movement, as shown at the bottom of Figs. 4 and 5, coil spring |48 associated with this set of arms is in its normal position, and any relative turning movement of the associated flange |21 and its housing members |34, |36 will be against the tension of this spring, so that the tendency of this spring is to return the fingers to their inner position. The other coil spring |48 affects the other set of fingers in the same manner.

As the capper frame |23 rotates, rollers |41 will be in constant engagement with cam |38 which has its outer periphery designed to effect relative turning movement between each flange |21 and each pair of housing members |34, |36. thereby effecting radial movement of arms |29 and fingers |30. This cam, referring to Fig. 4, has a uniform radius from point X to point Y and gradually decreases in radius from the latter point to point Z which is the low point on the cam. From point Z the cam surface" extends in substantially a straight line to point X. Accordingly, since cam |38 is stationary, rollers |41 will rotate around the cam as the capper frame rotates. As each roller |41.reaches the low point Z on the cam, fingers |30 and arms |29 associated therewith are at the inner end of their movement, as shown in the lower part of Figs. 4 and 5. Since rotation of the capper frame is in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, each roller |41 as it leaves the low point Z will be in contact with the surface of the cam between the latter point and point Y, thereby gradually moving arms |29 and fingers |30 radially outwardly until point Y is reached, at which time the arms and fingers will have reached the outer end of their movement, as indicated in the upper part of Figs. 4 and 5. Leaving point Y, thel rollers |41 are in contact with the portion of the cam between thelatter point. and the point X, which portion is of constant radius, whereby the fingers and arms will remain in their outer position during this portion of travel of the rollers |41. Leaving point X, the rollers quickly drop to point Z to effect a quick return of the fingers and arms to their inner position.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6, a tubular magazine is carried in each tubular 'member |26. Intermediate its ends, each magazine has an annular shoulder |5| which rests on a forked arm |52 which in turn rests on the upper end of tubular member |26. In its lowermost position, each magazine extends into-the plane of upper housing member |36, as shown at the left in Fig. 6, and each has a slightly inturned fiange or ledge |53 which supports a stack of caps, preferably of the type shown in Figs. 11 and l2, having substantially parallel top and bottom portions |54 and |55 respectively, each bottom portion having a central opening |56 therein. Each stack of caps is arranged as shown at the left in Fig. 6 whereby fingers |30 extend into the opening |56 in the lowermost cap. During outward radial movement of fingers |30, as previously described, these fingers are in engagement with the bottom portion of the lowermost cap and spread same into a skirt which is adapted to fit over the head of a bottle.

Each magazine |50 is adapted to be raised from the position shown at the left in Figs. 2 and 6 to the position shown at the right in said figures, so as to be out of the path of movement of the bottles as well as out of the way of the expanding fingers. This is accomplished by raising each forked arm |52 upon which the magazines rest. Arms |52 are each mounted on the upper end of a vertically reciprocating rod |51 slidable in a boss |58 formed on the outer surface of the portions I25' of capper frame |23 (Fig. 6). Each rod |51 has a roller |59 mounted on its lower end which is adapted to engage a cam track |60 (Figs.

4 and 6) arranged on the upper surface of each housing member |36. When the latter is turned relative to flange |21 (as viewed in the lower portion of Fig. 4) it will move in a clockwise direction and cam track will move under roller |59, forcing the latter up the cam track to its high point |6| at which point the magazine will be raised as shown at the right in Figs. 2 and 6. It will also be noted from the upper portion of Fig. 4 that roller |59 reaches the high point on cam |60 at the same time its associated roller |41 reaches point Y on cam |38, and roller |59 remains at the high point |6| during the travel of roller |41 from point Y to point X on cam |38, thus holding magazine |50 elevated during such travel of roller |41. As roller |41 moves from point X to point Z, its associated roller |59 will move down track |60 returning magazine |50 to its lower position. Each magazine |50 is raised and lowered alternately in the manner described.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, shaft 96 extends above cam |38 and a coupling member |62 is fitted on the end of this shaft to receive the lower end of a hot air blower indicated as a whole by numeral |63. 'Ihe shank |64 of the blower is-hollow and communicates with the hollowed end portion of shaft 96. At the lower end of hollowed portion |65 lateral passages |66 are formed which communicate with similar passages |61 formed in column |04. Passages |61 communicate with an air distributor housing |68 suitably mounted on column |04 so as to rotate with the latter. In this instance the lower portion |69 of the distributor housing is formed as a split sleeve held tightly in engagement with column |04 by screw |10 in the conventional manner. An annular air chamber |1| is formed in housing |68 and a plurality of vertical passages |12 communicate between this chamber and the rear ends of a pair of hollow nozzle members |13 each of which is adapted to communicate with one of the magazines |50. Each nozzle member |13 is mounted for limited rotation on housing |68 by means of pins or bolts |14 which have their lower ends |15 threaded into housing |68.

As will be obvious, heated air is adapted to pass down the shank of the blower through the 'I5 vlss (Fig. 5).

various passages and into nozzles |13 from which itis directed into the magazines |50. Each nozzle |13 is independently mounted and is associated with one of the capping heads. As shown at the left in Fig. 6, when fingers |30 are at the inner end of their movement, theoutlet end o f nozzle |13 is directly beneath opening |56 in the lowermost cap in the magazine. Heated air is, therefore, directed into opening |56 and causes the bottom portion of the cap to separate slightly from the top portion thereof as illustrated at the left in Fig. 6. Also, the heat renders the cap material more pliable when Pliofllm is used. This separation of the bottom portion of the cap from the top portion enables fingers |30 more readily to engage the bottom portion and form it into a skirt as the fingers move radially outwardly.

To insure proper alinement of nozzles |13 with the magazines when it is desired to heat the caps therein. a depending lug |16 is formed on each nozzle adjacent its inner end, and each lug |16 threadably receives an adjustable screw |11 having a lock nut |18 thereon to lock the screw in desired position whereby one end of each screw will engage the outer portion of housing |68 and limit the turning movement of each nozzle in one direction as shown in Fig. 6. Turning movement of each nozzle |13 in the opposite direction is opposed by a coil spring |19 arranged between each screw |11 and a bolt |80 secured to housing The normal tendency of each spring |19 is to urge the end of screw |11 in engagement with housing 68 and thus to hold the nozzles |13 in proper alinement with the magazines |50.

After the lowermost cap in the stack has been expanded to'receive a bottle it is necessary to move the nozzles |13 out of alignment with the magazines so as not to interfere with the passage of the bottle into the capping head to receive the cap. This movement cf the nozzles is obtained by means of rollers |8| mounted on the free ends of links |82 adjustably secured to the lower surface of each housing member |34, as at |83 (Figs. 5 and 6). Each roller |8| functions with its associated nozzle |13 whereby when housing member |34 is turned relative to flange |21, roller |8| will contact the nozzle intermediate its ends and swing it out of alinement with magazine |50 against the action of spring |19, as clearly shown at the right in Fig. 6. Thus, as long as housing member |34 is turned whereby fingers |30 are expanded to stretch the lower portion of the cap, the associated nozzle |13 will be held out of the path of movement of the bottle which is to receive the cap. As soon as each capped bottle is lowered from the capping head and while each housing member |34 returns to its initial position, springs |19 will return nozzles |13 to proper alinement with the magazines so that heated air may be directed into contact with the next caps in the stacks. When the apparatus is operated in temperatures sufficiently high to render the Pliofilm pliable enough without using the current of hot air, or when material other than Pliofilm is used in the caps, the air distributed means may be dispensed with and it can be readily removed from the machine without disturbing any of the remaining parts.

In the lower left hand corner of Fig. 2 I have shown a hand wheel |85 associated with speed changing mechanism, indicated as a Whole by numeral |86, but since the details of this mechanism form.no part of the present invention, further reference thereto is not believed to be necessary.

The operation of my apparatus is thought to be apparent from the foregoing description, but a brief statement of its operation will permit a more thorough understanding of the invention. The motor 20 is started and through the main drive shaft 25, the conveyor belt 38 begins to operate through its connections with shaft 25, and simultaneously the bottle feed wheel 9| will begin to rotate through its connections with shaft 25. Likewise, bottle rotor H3, the capping heads and the air distributor will simultaneously rotate since they are all mounted on column |04 which is-rotated through`connections with shaft 25. Thus, all the rotatable parts of the apparatus driven from shaft 25 are operated simultaneously.

Of course, shaft 96 has been manually adjusted to raise or lower the capping heads to accommodate quarts, pints or half pints, depending upon the size to be run through the apparatus, and stacks of caps are arranged in each magazine |50. Bottles to be capped are placed on the conveyor belt 39, which has had its guide rails properly adjusted to receive quarts, pints or half pints, as will be understood. When the first bottle reaches a point of the conveyor belt opposite bottle feed wheel 9| it is engaged by one of the cut out portions 95 and conducted to one of the tables ||8 which is timed in its rotation to be at the proper position to receive a bottle from the feed wheel. Each table ||8 isin predetermined alinement with one of the capping heads and retains this alinement at all times, so that as soon as a bottle is deposited on one of the tables ||8 it will be in position directly beneath one of the capping heads as shown in Fig. 2, ready to be elevated to receive a cap.

As soon as one table I I8 receives the first bottle to be capped it turns, together with its associated capping head, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, and roller |20 begins to ride up cam track |2| to raise the table and bottle, whereby at the time the table has turned approximately 180 the bottle will be in the position shown at the right in Fig. 2, the head of the bottle having passed through the plane of the cap and having removed the cap from fingers |30. As the head of the bottle engages the cap and removes it from the fingers, the cap fits in place on the bottle, the upper portion |54 extending across the top of the bottle, while the lower portion |55 grips the bead of the bottle to hold the cap in place. If the bottle should not be properly centered on table |8, the top of the bottle will engage the beveled sides of opening in housing member |34 and become properly centered so as to freely pass into the capping head.

At the time the first bottle is deposited on one table I8 and it is desired to use the hot air distributing means, the hot air nozzle |13 above said able is in alinement with the magazine |50 above said table, so as to direct air into the opening |56 in the lowermost cap in the magazine, as indicated at the left in Fig. 2. When the capping head above the first bottle deposited on table ||8 begins to turn, roller |41'associated with said head will be at point M (Fig. 4) on cam |38 and will move toward point Y. As previously explained, finger s |30 are at the inner end of their movement when roller |41 is at point Z on cam |38. Hence, at point M the fingers will be partly expanded, and this expansion continues until roller |41 reaches point Y, because of the relative movement between housing members |34,

|36 and flange |21 which moves arms |29 and iingers |30'radially outwardly to stretch the bot` tom portion of the cap. When this roller I 41 reaches point Y the bottom portion of the cap has been properly expanded and no further outward radial movement of fingers |30 is'possible or necessary. At the time roller |41 reaches point Y, the bottle on table I8 is just below the fingers |30, as shown at the right in Fig. 6. As fingers |30 remain in their expanded position during travel of roller |41 from point Y to point X on cam |38, the bottle is permitted to continue upwardly through the plane of the cap h eld by the fingers to receive said cap.

In order to permit unobstructed passage of the bottle through the plane of the cap, the nozzle |13 has been moved out of the path of movement of the bottle by roller IBI which engages the nozzle during relative turning movement of housing member |34 and flange |21. Likewise, this relative turning movement has caused cam track to pass beneath roller |59 and raise magazine |50, together with the caps therein except the cap held by fingers |30, to the position shown at the right in Figs. 2 and 6, out of the way of the top of the bottle which is to receive a cap and out of the way of the expanding fingers.

As the magazine moves upwardly the cap held in ngers |30 will be withdrawn from the lower end of the magazine and held in proper position on the fingers to receive the top of the bottle. If, after receiving a cap, the bottle top should'move upwardly far enough to engage the lower end of the magazine, the latter can easily be raised by the bottle so as to prevent any jamming of the mechanism.

After receiving a cap, the bottle with table I I8 descends as roller |20 moves down cam track |2|. As previously explained, the descent of roller |20 from the high point |22 on cam |2I is accomplished quickly in order to get the capped bottle out of the way as soon as possible. Hence, continued rotation of table H8 will bring the capped bottle around to a point adjacent the inner end of guard rail 16 by which it will be swept from table ||8 and deposited on stationary table 69 to be gathered up for distribution in the usual manner.

When roller |41 has reached point X on cam |38, the capped bottle will be clear of the capping head and nozzle so that the latter may be returned to its initial position and fingers |30 may be returned to their inner position ready to receive the next cap when the magazine is lowered to its initial position. This return of fingers |30, nozzle |13 and magazine |50 is accomplished while roller |41 is moving from point X to point Z on cam |38. When roller` |41 reaches point Z the capping head, nozzle and table ||8 will have made about three quarters of a revolution and upon reaching point M a complete revolution will have been made, so that the table H8 will be in position to receive another bottle from the feed wheel 9|.

Since the present apparatus is a duplex machine, when the first bottle is deposited on one of the tables |I8, the other cut-out portion 95 in the bottle feed wheel 9| (see Fig. 3) will be in position to engage the next bottle on conveyor belt 39 and deposit it on the other table |I8. The latter will then carry this second bottle through the same cycle of operations described in connection with the first bottle, and the second bottle will be capped and deposited on table 89 in the same manner as the first bottle. ,In order to clarify the operation, in Fig. 2 I have shown the first bottle in three positions A, B and C. Position A shows the bottle on-the conveyor belt as it is engaged by feed wheel 9|, position B shows it just after it has been deposited on table ||8, and position C shows'it inside the capping head with a cap thereon. Thus it will be seen that the first, third, fifth, etc., bottle will be deposited on one table I8 and moved into the associated capping-head, while the second, fourth, sixth, etc., bottle will be deposited on the other table ||8 and moved into its associated capping head. Thus, I have provided an apparatus which will continuously cap bottles which are delivered to it and deposit the capped bottles ready for further use. While the apparatus is of the duplex type, it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to such type and the apparatus may be made to accommodate either one or a plurality of bottles at a time. In the event the air distributing means is not used it may be disconnected from the apparatus without affecting the operation of the remaining parts.

In Figs. 9 and l0 I have shown a modified form of mechanism for expanding the bottom portion of the cap. In this modification a plurality of expander arms |29' having vertical fingers |30' are pivoted as by means of pins |81 to flange |21 which ls approximately half as thick as flange |21, although the combined thickness of flange |21' and arms |29' is preferably equal to the thickness of flange |21 whereby flange |21 and arms |29 may be readily fitted 'into the space between housing members |34 and |36 which is equal to the space between housing members |34 and |38. At their outer ends each arm |29' carries a pin |3|' on which is mounted a roller |32 which is radially movable in a relatively short radial slot |33' formed in housing member |34'. f

When this arrangement is utilized in place of the expanding fingers previously described, relative turning movement between housing members |34', |36' and flange |21' will cause rollers '|32' to move radially in slots |33' thereby .effecting a pivotal movement of arms |29 instead of the radial movement obtained by arms |29. Arms |29' will move from the position shown at the bottom of Fig. 9 to the position shown at the top of said figure and will expand the bottom portion of the cap to the same extent as fingers |29, as will be apparent.

` While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my apparatus, it will be apparent that the invention isvnot so limited, and' various modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and Within the scope of the subjoined claims.

`What is claimed is:

1. A bottle capping machinevfor applying flexible caps having a substantially flat top portion and a substantially parallel bottom portion provided with an axial opening therein to uncapped bottles or receptacles, comprising means for supporting an uncapped bottle, means for receiving and supporting a stack of axially alined caps for application to said bottles, means engageable with the bottom portion of the lowermost cap in said stack for `forming said bottom portion into a skirt and for expanding the opening in said bot- 2. A bottle lcapping machine for applying flexible caps having a substantially flat top portion l and a substantially parallel bottom portion provided with an axial opening therein to uncapped bottles or receptacles, comprising means for supporting an uncapped bottle, a movable magazine for receiving and supporting a stack of axially alined caps for application to said bottles, means engageable`with/the bottom portion of the lowermost cap in said stack for forming said bottom portion into a skirt and for expanding, the opening in said bottom portion to a size suiiicient to permit the head of a bottle to pass therethrough, means for moving the head of a bottle through the expanded opening in said lowermost cap and continuing the movement of said bottle through the plane of said cap to remove the latter from its expanding means and leave it in position on the head of said bottle, and. means for moving said magazine out of the path of movement of said bottle.

3.'A machine for applying flexible caps to bottles or receptacles, comprising a magazine for receiving a plurality of caps in stack formation, a. suitable receptacle support arranged beneath the magazine, means operable for stretching and holding stretched the lowermost cap of the 'stack radially outwardly, and means for moving the head of a receptacle through the plane of said stretched cap to deposit the cap on said head and continuing the movement of said head beyond the plane of said cap to remove the latter from its stretching and holding means.

4. A machine for applying flexible caps to bottles or receptacles, comprising a magazine for receiving a plurality of caps in stack formation. a suitable receptacle support arranged beneath the magazine, means operable for stretching and holding stretched the lowermost cap of the stack radially outwardly, means for moving the head of a receptacle through the plane ol said stretched cap to deposit the cap on said head and continuing the movement of said head beyond the plane of said cap to remove the latter from its stretching and holding means, and means for moving said magazine out of the path of movement of said receptacle.

5. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting in stack formation a plurality of flexible caps having a substantially flat top portion and a substantially parallel bottom portion provided with an axial opening therein, a plurality of lingers operable to engage the bottom portion of the lowermost cap in said stack and to form said bottom portion into a skirt and to expand the opening in said bottom portion to a size sufficient to permit the head of a bottle to pass therethrough, a housing for said lingers, and means electing relative movement between said lingers and housing to operate said fingers, said last named means comprising a cam, a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said housing relative to said fingers.

6. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting a plurality of flexible caps in stack formation, a plurality of ngers operable to expand and hold expanded at least a portion of the lowermost cap in said stack, a housing for said lingers, and means effecting relative movement between said lingers and housing to operate said lingers, said last named means comprising a cam, a roller operated by said cam, and

vnections between said roller and to turn said housing` connections between said roller and said housing to turn said housing relative to said fingers.

'7. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting a plurality of flexible caps in stack formation, a plurality of radially movable lingers operable to expand and hold ex` panded at least a portion of the lowermost cap in said stack, a housing for said lingers, and means effecting relative movement between said fingers and housing to move said fingers radially, said last named means comprising a cam, a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said housing to turn said 'housing-relative to said fingers.

8. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting a 'plurality of flexible caps in stack formation, a plurality of pivotally movable lingers operable to expand and hold expanded at least a portion of the lowermost cap in said stack, a housing for said lingers, and means effecting relative movement between said lingers and housing to pivot said fingers, said last named means comprising a cam, a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said housing to turn said housing relative to said fingers.

9. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting a plurality of flexible caps in vertical stack formation. a housing having an axial opening therein arranged beneath said means with said openingin alinement with the lowermost cap in said stack, a plurality of horizontally moveable fingers arranged in said housing and operable in said opening to engage and expand at least a portion,of the lowermost cap in said stack, and means for operating said lingers, said last named means comprising a cam., a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said housing to turn said housing relative to said lingers.

l0. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting a plurality of exible caps in vertical stack formation, a housing having an axial opening therein arranged beneath said means with said opening in alinement with the lowermost cap in said stack, a plurality of horizontally movable lingers arranged in said housing and movable radially in said opening to engage and expand at least a portion of the lowermost cap in said stack, and means for operating said lingers, said last named means comprising a cam, a roller operated by said cam, and consaid housing to' turn vsaid housing relative to said lingers.-

ll. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, means for supporting a plurality of liexible caps in vertical stack formation, a housing having an axial opening therein arranged beneath said means with said opening in alinement with the lowermost cap in said stack, a plurality of horizontally movable lingers arranged in said housing and pivotally ymovable in said opening to engage and expand at least a portion of the lowermost cap in said stack, and means for operating said lingers, said last named means comprising a cam, a roller operated by said cam, Iand connections between said roller and said housing to turn said housing relative to said fingers.

12. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a capping head including a tubular member having a ba'se flange thereon, a housing for said flange and having an axial opening in alinement with the bore of said tubular member, a plurality of horizontally arranged lingers carried by said flange and moveable toward and away from the axis of said tubular member, and

means for moving said fingers, said means comprising a stationary cam, a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said housing t0 turn said housing relative to said fingers.

13. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a capping head including a tubular member having a base iiange thereon, a housing for said flange and having an axial opening in alinement with the bore of said tubular member, a plurality of horizontal fingers carried by said iiange and moveable radially toward and away from the axis of said tubular member, and means for moving said fingers, said means comprising a stationary cam, a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said housing to turn said housing relative to said ngers.

14. In bottle capping apparatus, in combina.- tion, a capping head including a tubular member having a base flange thereon, a housing for said flange and having an axial opening in alinement with the bore of said tubular member, a plurality of horizontal fingers carried by said iiange and pivotally movable toward and away from the axis of said tubular member, and means for moving said fingers, said means comprising a stationary cam, a roller operated by said cam, and connections between said roller and said 'housing to turn said housing relative to said fingers.

15. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a conveyor for continuously delivering -bottles to be capped, a rotatable and vertically movable table for receiving a bottle to be capped, a feed wheel for transferring a bottle from said conveyor to said table, a rotatable capping head in alinement withsaid bottle on said table, a magazine containing caps in stack formation mounted in said capping head, a rotatable hot air directing means carried below said capping head and arranged to deliver heated air against the stack of caps in said magazine, means for rotating said table, bottle, air directing means and capping head in unison, means for moving said table and bottle upwardly during rotation to cause the top of said bottle to enter said capping head and receive the lowermost cap in said stack, and means Yfor moving said hot air directing means out of the path of movement of said bottle.

16. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a conveyor for continuously delivering bottles to be capped, a pair of rotatable and vertically movable tables for receiving bottles to be capped,- a feed wheel for transferring bottles from said conveyor alternately to said tables, a pair of rotatable capping heads in alinement with said bottles on said tables, a magazine containing caps in stack formation mounted in each capping head, a rotatable hot air directing means carried below each capping head and each arranged to deliver heated air against one of the stacks of caps in said magazines, means for rotating said tables, bottles, air directing means and capping heads in unison, means for moving each table andbottle alternately upwardly during rotation to cause the top of each bottle alternately to enter its respective capping head and receive the lowermost cap in the respective stack, and means for moving each hot air directing means out of the path of movement of its respective bottle.

` LYNN L. SEYMOUR. 

